Effects of main actor, outcome and affect on biased braking speed judgments

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Date

2012-05

Authors

Svenson, Ola
Eriksson, Gabriella
Slovic, Paul
Mertz, C. K.
Fuglestad, Tina

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Society for Judgment and Decision Making

Abstract

Subjects who judged speed in a driving scenario overestimated how fast they could decelerate when speeding compared to when keeping within the speed limit (Svenson, 2009). The purpose of the present studies were to replicate studies conducted in Europe with subjects in the U.S., to study the influence of speed unit (kph vs. mph), affective reactions to outcome (collision) and identity of main actor (driver) on braking speed judgments. The results replicated the European findings and the outcome affective factor (passing a line/killing a child) and the actor factor (subject/driver in general) had significant effects on judgments of braking speed. The results were related to psychological theory and applied implications were discussed.

Description

9 pages

Keywords

Overconfidence, Driving speed, Braking, Affect heuristic, Traffic safety

Citation

Svenson, O., Eriksson, G., Slovic, P., Mertz, C. K., & Fuglestad, T. (2012). Effects of main actor, outcome and affect on biased braking speed judgments. Judgment and Decision Making, 7, 235–243.